The Central Intelligence Agency and Overhead Reconnaissance; The U-2 and OXCART Programs, 1954-1974

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22
Secret l\'JOFOAl\1
Chapter 1
lenses. Since the university did not wish to continue manufacturing
cameras and lenses after the end of the war, the optical laboratory
moved to Boston University, which agreed to sponsor the effort as
long as the Air Force would fund it. Baker decided to remain at
Harvard, so his assistant, Dr. Duncan E. Macdonald, became the new
head of what was now called the Boston University Optical Research
Laboratory (8 UORL). Baker's association with the Air Force did not
end with the transfer of the optical laboratory to Boston University,
because he continued to design lenses to be used in photoreconnais­
sance. 17
The [SP first met at Boston University on 3 August 1953. To
provide background on the poor state of US knowledge of the Soviet
Union, Philip Strong informed the other panel members that the best
intelligence then available on the Soviet Union's interior was photog­
raphy taken by the German Luftwaffe during World War [l. Since the
German photography covered only the Soviet Union west of the
Urals, primarily west of the Volga River, many vital regions were not
included. The ISP would, therefore, have to look for ways to provide
up-to-date photography of all of the Soviet Union. Several Air Force
agencies then briefed the panel members on the latest developments
and proposed future projects in the area of aerial reconnaissance, in­
cluding new cameras, reconnaissance balloons. and even satellites.
Among the Air Force reconnaissance projects discussed were multi­
ple sensors for use in existing aircraft such as the RB-47, RB-52, and
RB-58; Project FICON-an acronym for "fighter conversion"-for
adapting a giant, I 0-engine 8-36 bomber to enable it to launch and
retrieve a Republic RF-84F Thunderflash reconnaissance aircraft; re­
connaissance versions of the Navajo and Snark missiles; the high-alti­
tude balloon program, which would be ready to go into operation by
the summer of 1955; and the search for a new high-altitude reconnais­
sance aircraft. 3~
" Baker interview (S). In 1957. after the Air Force decided to cut back its funding of
BGORL. Duncan Macdonald and Richard Leghorn (by then retired from the Air Force)
formt:d their own corporation-ltek-an<l purchased the laboratory from Boston
University (Leghorn interview [SJ).
" :\lemorandurn for Robert Amory. Jr.. Deputy Din.:ctor. lntc:lligence. from Edward L.
Allen. Chief. Economic Research, ORR. and Philip G. Strong. Chief. Operations Staff.
OSI. "Meeting of the Intelligence Systems Panel of the Scientitic Advisory Boar<l. USAF,''
26 August I 953; Memorandum for H. Marshall Cha<lwell. Assistant Director/Scientific
lnrelligence. from Chief. Support Staff. OSI. .. Review of OSA Activities Concerned with
Scientific an<l Technical Collection Techniques ... 13 May I 955. p. 6, OSI (OSWR) records.
job S0R-01424. bo:< I (S); Donovan interview. 22 May 1985 !S) .
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